Blessings and Challenges

It has been a long and busy week already starting on Sunday where we went to church and met up with our new small group afterward and then headed to Gresham and Jen's house for a little birthday celebration for a certain girl woman who turned 37.

 

 Amazing how young 37 is when you are the one turning it, right? It was very nice to be together as a family and another reminder that it is such a blessing to live near awesome Aunts,

  

Sweet Uncles

 

and fun cousin dogs that we can love on since we are dogless for the first time EVER. 

 

 It is truly amazing how Keith and I constantly feel the void in our lives from not having a dog. It is the first time in 17 years that Keith nor I have not had a dog or cat by our side. We miss it terribly, but figure having a newborn is not the time to get a dog and when it does come time, we may have to get a dog that works with us versus and dog that we ideally want. Meaning that, we are big dog people, but may have to get a small dog so that both kids can control it easily since Mom and Dad can't have one more thing on their plate!

Yes, the plate has been full with our normal home stuff of making lunches, homework, quiet time, media time, work time, dinner, showers and bedtime. Then you add in starting soccer practice, open house at school, grocery store errands, appointments, creating and getting out baby announcements, laundry, dishes and cleaning and you have two haggard parents at the end of a day.

There was actually a point one day this week (I can't remember when since I can barely keep track of what the current day is!) as I was in the living room feeding Zane and Conner and Alaina were having and impromptu WWF match, that the thought occurred to me "What have we done? I mean really, WHAT HAVE WE DONE? We have created these THREE children and now we are responsible for them!!" You think that idea would have hit me before, but no, I tend to realize I am in over my head AFTER I am in over my head. However, the Lord is merciful and I believe he did work it out to preserve my sanity by me having my third later and allowing my other two to be safely away at an awesome school for the day. Not only away at what we feel is the best school for them, but right next to Keith's work, where he can take them every single day (and volunteer in my place this quarter) so all I have to do is pick up. That means the only true chaos I have to deal with is from 3:30pm to 8:30pm. Hopefully by the time track out comes in October, I will be more sane, more rested and have Zane on a schedule. Lord willing!

Speaking of Zane, he was a complete fuss pot Monday and Tuesday when he was awake, he just wanted to sleep. I did get a half smile on Monday (best birthday present ever) and it is emerging more and more each day. We have the "I am staring at my mobile and I'm serious" look,

We have the emerging smile!

 Check out that little dimple on the right cheek! Just like Alaina. Love it.

And then we have the "I am zoned out staring at you and nothing you do, especially acting like a silly moron with that voice, is going to make me smile." : )

Happy eight weeks old Zane David!

Wordless Wednesday

Cousins

Friday Moments

Alaina excited to be able to hold her brother all by herself.

Locking eyes with his big brother. 

Another one of the cool baby things that has come out since Alaina was born. This toy is awesome for Zane's age and attaches to anything and everything. Here was mesmerized by it.

Monkey butt taking a nap. 

Today Alaina mastered drawing a heart. I love how excited she gets about the little things.

Alaina's first diaper change. 

More mesmerizing mobile time (and a hint of a smile!).

Conner in full fledge baby talk mode while Zane stares back. 

Look who is holding his head up nice and steady now!

 Olympics watching. 

Wordless Wednesday

Always happy and calm after my nightly bath.

My new "normal" and my little fuss pot.

Last week was the first full week of school for Conner and Alaina and it hit me one day while loading the dryer that this is my new normal. The next five years, FIVE YEARS, will be Zane and I at home with the bigger kids at school. One one hand I feel such joy looking forward to the five years, knowing how fun they can be, but on the other hand, I feel like taking a nap just thinking about it. : ) 

A certain little baby has been quite fussy lately. While he has had some content moments like this one where he was fascinated with his hand,

and this one, where he layed on his playmat for the first time,

he often quickly starts to do this,

 and would much rather do this than anythig else:

Laying on a tummy with his pacifier is by far his favorite position, especially when he is fussy. Can't say that I blame him if you get to do it with Mommy a lot during the day and then Alaina in the afternoon,

and the Conner in the evening.

Our afternoon ritual when coming home from school has been for Alaina, Zane and I to watch the Olympics together. While Alaina never really "watches" the Olympics (she sings, dances and does gymnastics while I watch), she did lay with Zane today and enjoy some track and field with me.

After quality time with her brother, Alaina went up for quiet time. This has always been a struggle for her because as an extrovert, being alone is practically torture, so quiet time is typically spent with her asking 47 times how much longer she has to stay in her room. She is doing better however, and typically comes downstairs to share what she has been doing. Today I was graced with beautiful piece of artwork that she was quite proud of. If only she knew that I throw them out how much I cherished them. 

Another new "normal" that we are getting used to is nightly homework. Gone are the days when Conner could have his afternoons and evenings to himself, and he has decided that his "homework" time is right after dinner. Tonight he was a little distracted by a certain someone. : )